Combined lidding and strapping machine



April 17, 19340 H. PAXTON COMBINED LIDDING AND STRAPPING MACHINE Filed. July 51, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet l mzvzuw: HaZe Pan: 1 {I April 17,- 1934. H. PAXTON COMBINED LIDDING AND STRAPPING MACHINE Filed July 31, 1931 s Shets-Sheet 2 mmvz'ok: JFDZZe Pension;

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 17,1934

UNITED \STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINED LIDDING AND STRAPPING MACHINE Application July 31, 1931, Serial No. 554,211

16 Claims.

- My invention relates to the art of applying closuresto shipping cases and particularly to a novel apparatus for strapping fruit or vegetable shipplng cases. Q

The present invention is an improvement in the apparatus disclosed in the application for U. S. Patent of Harry D. Benson, Ser. No. 505,575, filed Dec. 30, 1930. However, the present invention is not restricted to use in connection with the specific embodiment shown in the aforesaid copending application but has broad utility in many different industries.

In shipping certain varieties of fruits and vegetables, such as citrus fruits, apples, lettuce,v and the like, it is customary to pack an open shipping case or box so full that the produce extends above the top of the box and then force a lid down over the box until the ends of the lid contact the ends of the box, and then nail the ends of the lid to the box. The middle of the lid thus bulges upwardly and it is customary to apply a strap over the lid,

securing the opposite ends of the strap to the box to strengthen the lid during shipment of the case. A number of machines, including that shown in the above-mentioned copending application, have been devised for the automatic application of straps to shipping cases. These machines have in one way oranother utilized pressure of a lid shaping saddle bar against the lid either to. actuate mechanism for shaping the strap to fit that the box does not thereafter look as full asv it would if the lid was not depressed. As the appearance of the-packed cases is a considerable factor in selling them it is of course very important that everything possible be done to make them attractive to the prospective purchaser.

It is accordingly an object of my invention to provide a machine for strapping shipping cases in which pressure will not be brought against the lid of the case in order to effect the shaping ofthe strap in preparing this for application to the box. It is a further object of my invention to provide a machine forstrapping shipping cases which automatically shapes the strap for application to the box prior to bringing th t ap into contact with the box.

In certain of the strapping machines in use at present the strap driving means are mounted onthe lid shaping. saddle and driving of the strap is accomplished by downward movement of the driving means which exerts a considerable pressure against the lid, this being objected to by cer- .tain shippers of fresh fruits and vegetables.

It is accordingly a still further object of, my invention to provide a strapping machine of this kind in which the strap driving means are supported during the driving of the strap to prevent excessive pressure being applied by this means to the'lid of the case being strapped.

The manner of accomplishing the foregoing objects as well as further objects and advantages, will be made manifest in the following description, together with the accompanying drawings, .in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the machine shown in Fig. 1 taken in the direction of the arrow 2.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1. V

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig; 3 showing a different stage of operation of my invention.

Fig. 5 is a view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of one of the straps applied by the machine of my invention.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary enlarged detail view similar to Fig. 4 illustrating the completion of a cycle of operation of my machine.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail view taken on the line 3-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail view taken on the line 9--9 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary enlarged detailsectional view taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 7. s The apparatus of my invention as illustrated in the drawings isembodied in a combined lidding and strapping machine and includes a frame 16, a box elevator 17, lid positioning and nailing mechanism 18, and a strap shaping, positioning, and driving mechanism 19.

The frame 16 has a base 20 including feet 21 formed of heavy angle iron. These feet are connected by a heavy crossbar 22 and have channel beam standards 23 extending upwardly therefrom At their upper ends the standards 23 are ,connectedby suitable connecting bars 24 and 25.

boa: elevator 17 The box elevator 17 includes a hydraulic cylinder 26 having a piston 2'7 and controlled by a valve 28 which is operated by a foot lever 29.

The valve 28 is supplied with liquid under pressure by a pump (not shown) which is continuously operated by the same source of power used to run the strapping and lidding machine 15.

The cylinder 26 so operates that when the pedal 29 is depressed fluid under pressure is fed to the cylinder beneath the piston 27 so as to cause this to be elevated. Releasing the pedal 29 permits,

the piston 27 to move downward by gravity.

Mounted on the piston 27 is a box receiving table 35 having roller stops 36 at its opposite ends for positioning a box 37 placed thereon. Se

cured to the table 35 and embracing flanges 38 of the standards23 are guide wheels 40. Mounted an the table 35 and extending rearwardly therefrom is a bracket 42 carrying a roller 43 for a purpose which will be made manifest hereinafter.

The lid positioning and nailing mechanism 18 brackets along the lower edges of the brackets 48 are lid compressing rollers 52. Also mounted on the brackets 48 and extending downwardly and inwardly beneath the rollers 52 is a pair of spring arms 53 having lower cam faces 54, the upper edges of which are adapted to engage and yieldably support a lid 56 as this is shown in Fig. 1.

Mounted upon inner faces of each of the brackets 48 is a purality of nail chucks 60 which are supplied with nails in a manner well known in the art. The nail chucks 60 have drivers 61 which are rigidly mounted on a frame 62 which has a pair of vertical bars 64 sliding in a bearing block 65 secured in inner faces of the channels 53. The forward end of the frame 62 is braced by braces 66, the lower ends of which are secured to pins 68 which are provided on the rod 64 and extend outwardly therefrom through openings 69 in the channel frame standards 23. Pivotally connecting with the pins 68 are pitmans 70, lower ends of which are mounted on cranks 71 provided on opposite ends of a crankshaft 72. The shaft 72 is adapted to be operated by a clutch 73 which is set in operation by a foot pedal 74. This clutch is of such nature that for each time it is operated it causes the shaft 72 to make'a single revolution and stop in its original position, this resulting in thelhammers 61 going through a complete nailing cyc e.

The strap shaping, positioning and driving mechanism 19 This mechanism is principally supported by a pair of angle irons 80, opposite ends of which are supported by main frame cross bars 24 and 49. Secured between the angle irons is a stationary slide box provided with opposite pairs of rollers 86 between which slidably extends a mounting stem 87 of the strap positioning and driving mechanism 19. The upper end of the stem 87 is provided with a series of holes 90, any of which is adapted to receive a pin 91, the purpose of which will be made manifest hereinafter. Rigidly secured to the lower end of the stem 87 is a built-up saddle bar which is preferably made up of side plates 96 and a channeled strap shaping bar Qlwhich is disposed between adjacent lower edges of these plates and permanently secured thereto. The saddle bar 95 b se lower to provide a driver-way 140. Disposed in each and cylinder head 167' is a compression spring 43 when the latter is in contact therewith.

eas es lid shaping edge 100, opposite end portions of which extend downwardly, for shaping the lid 56 during the strapping operation. The channeled bar 97 follows the edge 100 but is shorter than the plates 96 as shown in Fig. 7. Provided in the lower face of the channeled bar 97 is a strap receiving and shaping channel 101. At opposite ends of the channeled bar 97 are free spaces 116 between extending ends of the plates 96. Secured in place in these free spaces by bolts 111 are spacers 112. Pivotally mounted on the spacers 112 are strapper jaws 113, each of which includes a pair of plates 114 shaped as clearly shown in Figs. 7 and 9 and held in spaced relation at their lower ends by a spacer 116, and a bolt 117.

Lower ends of the plates 114 are flared to provide strap guides 118 for a purpose which will be made evident hereinafter. Also disposed between the plates 114 and secured thereto are driver stops 120 and 121. Upper ends of the plates 114 of each jaw 113 are pivotally connected by a bolt 124 to an eye 125 of a rod 126 having a collar 12'! and extending upwardly through a slide box 136 rotatably mounted between the angle irons 30. Disposed on each of the rods 126 between the collar 127 and slide box 130 is a compression spring 131 which tends to resiliently urge the jaw 113 to which this rod is attached downwardly around its spacer pivot 112. Provided on the upper end of each of the bolts 126 is a pair of lock nuts 135 by which downward movement of the rod 126 may be adjustably determined.

Inner faces of the plates 114 are machined off driver-way and pivotally mounted on the spacer 112 is a driver 144 having a lower driving head 145 and a laterally extending arm 146. The frame 62 has front and rear bars and 151,

each of which is pivotally connected to one of the driver arms 146 by one of a pair of yieldably exsible links 158. Each link 158 includes a cylinder 159, the lower end of which is pivoted to one of the arms 146, this cylinder having a piston which is connected to a piston rod 166 extending upwardly through a head 167 of the cylinder and pivotally connected to one of the bars 150 or 151 of the frame 62. The piston 165 is provided with a packer 170 which faces downwardly, and a passageway 171 is formed through the lower end of the piston rod 166 so as to communicate between the upper and lower chambers 172 and 173 into which the piston 165 divides the interior of the cylinder 159. Disposed between the piston 165 175 which continually urges the cylinder 159 upwardly so as to lift the driver arm 146 to which this link 158 is connected and bring the head 145 against the driver stop 120. I

Pivotally mounted on the cross bar 25 is a bell crank having a long vertical arm 181, a lower end 182 of which is connected to a spring 183 which holds this arm constantly urged against the roller 43 of the box platform 35. The arm 181 has a lower portion 184 which is normally disg posed in alignment with the path of the roller 43, a cam portion 185 which is disposed obliquely to the path of this roller, and a portion 186 which is normally disposed in alignment with the roller 1 The bell crank 180 has a substantially horizontal arm 190, the inner end of which is bifurcated to provide prongs :191 which are normally disposed beneath opposite, ends of the pin 91 whichextend from the saddle bar stem 87. 1

Operation the box 3'7 representing an orange box, as packed with oranges of about 200 size.

At the time of thus positioning the box 3'7 on the elevator 1'7 the parts of the machine are positioned as shown in Figs. 1,2 and 3. A strap 206 having its opposite ends 201 bent and pointed as shown in Fig. 6 is now lifted upwardly into the strap mechanism 19 so that the opposite ends of the strap are guided into place between guides 118 and snap into position between the spacers 116 and the driver heads 145 as shown in Fig. 3, the strap now being under compression so as to be bowed upwardly almost into contact with the saddle bar 95. When the strap is thus positioned, it is of course aligned with the channel 101 and disposed directly therebeneath as shown in Fig. 6. The lid 56 is now inserted upwardly into place in the bowed position in which it is shown in Fig. l.

The operation at this pointis best observed by reference to Figs. 3, 4 and '7. With the parts of the machine and the work positioned as shown in Fig. 3, the operator depresses thepedal 29 to start the elevator 1'7 moving upwards. For the first portion of its travel the roller 43 moves along the lower portion 184 of the arm 181 without effect." As the roller 43 engages the oblique portion 185 of this arm the bell crank 180 is rotated about its pivot, thus bringing the prongs 191 against the pin 91 and raising the saddle bar 95 to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 4. The effect of this motion of the saddle bar 95 is to raise the spacer pivotsof the jaws 113 so as to rock these jaws about these pivots and compress the strap 200 into suitable shape for application to the box 3'7. This shaping takes place before the strap has come into contact with any portion of this box, including the lid 56. Engagement of the roller 43 with the oblique portion 185 of the arm 161 is timed so that the upper portion of the sides of the box 3'7 have just been elevated so as to come between the lower ends of the jaws 113 when these are rocked into strap shaping position as shown in Fig. 4, in which position these jaws come into light engagement with the sides of the box. f

Operation of the elevator 1'7 is continued from this point until the box 37 is brought upwardly to where the cleated ends of the box lid 56 are pressed tight against the lower faces of the nail chucks 60 and the box lid 56 engages the lid shaping face 100 of the saddle bar 95. I

The yieldable extensible links 158 are provided to compensate for the saddle 95 being lifted different heights'by different size boxes 3'7 or different amounts of fruit piled up thereon.

When the frame 62 is stationary in its upward position the springs 175 of the links 158 urge the cylinders 159 upward so as to retain the heads 145 of the drivers 144 pressed outwardly against the stops 120 even though in the prerelative to the reciprocating frame 62. Opera-. tion of the springs 1'75 to maintain this condition during this preliminary adjustment is possible owing to the relatively slow speed with which the adjustment is made so that part of the fluid in the chambers 173 of the links 158 has ample time to flow through the passages 1'71 into the upper chambers 1'72.

In some cases the pressure thus exerted against the saddle bar is sufficient to lift the pin 91 out of contact with the prongs 191, but normally this pressure is insufficient for this purpose. During the upward portion of the movement of the elevator 17 the roller 43 is disposed opposite the vertical portion 186 of the bell crank arm 181. Thus if the elevator is not moved upwardly sufiiciently to lift the pin 91 off of the prongs 191 the saddle bar 95 will have a relatively rigid sup port during the securing of the strap to the box 37. When the box has been elevated to the point above described, the pedal '74 is depressed so as to cause the clutch '73 to rotate the shaft '72 a single revolution. This reciprocates the frame 62 downward and upward so that each of the hammers 61 drives a nail from its respective chuck 60 through the lid 56 into the box 3'7 and thus secures the lid in place on the box. a

With the same movement of... the frame 62 which thus lids the box the piston rods 166 of the extensiblelinks 158 are suddenly moved downwardly. This motion does not give time for the escape of liquid from the chambers 1'73 through the passages 1'71 into the chambers 1'72 of the extensible links 118 so that the drivers 144 are swung downwardly, driving the pointed ends 201 of the strap 200 into the box 3'7.

During the first part of the rapid upward re turn of the reciprocating frame 62 the driver heads 145 are returned into contact with the stops 120 which halts upward movement of the cylinders 159 of the extensible links 158. During the remainder of theupward travel of the frame 62 the packers 1'70 collapse sufficiently to permit oil in the upper chambers 1'72 to pass downwardly around the packers 170 to the lower chambers 1'73 of the cylinders 159.

As soon as the lid has been thus nailed and strapped the pedal 29 is released and the table 35 moves rapidly down to-its lower position in which it is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and the lidded and strappedbox 37 is removed from the table. During this downward movement of the elevator 17 the roller 43 passes over the oblique portion 185 of the bell crank arm 181 opposite the lower vertical lower portion 134. of this arm. This allows the prongs 191 to move downward under the weight of the saddle bar 95 and stem 8'? so that the strapper mechanism 19 assumes its open position as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. A complete cycle of operation of the machine 15 has now been accomplished. I

The advantages to which it is desired to call particular attention include the automatic shaping of the strap prior to the contact of the lid with thestrapper and the provision of a support for the strapper saddle bar which will absorb a considerable portion of the pressure exerted downwardly on the saddle bar in the driving of the strap ends into the box. Attention is also called to the fact that the saddle bar 95 may be lifted to different heights depending upon,

which of the'holes 90 the pin 91 is disposed in so as to pre-shape the strap to fit boxes of different widths.

While I have shown and described but a single embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that many modifications and changes might be made in this without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

I. In a box strapping machine, the combination of: means to transversely shape a lid positioned on a box; means associated with the aforementioned means to support a strap and shape this to facilitate its application to said box; and means to operate said strap shaping means to shape said strap prior to the shaping of said lid.

2. In a box strapping machine, the combination of: a lid shaper for transversely shaping a lid positioned on a box; means to bring said shaper and said lid together with a predetermined degree of pressure to cause a certain deflection of said lid; and means associated with said lid shaper and adapted to support and shape a strap, said last mentioned means being responsive to said. first mentioned means to shape said strap prior to the deflection of said lid.

3. In a box strapping machine, the combination of: a lid shaper for transversely shaping a lid positioned on a box; means to bring said shaper and said lid together with a predetermined degree of pressure to cause a certain defiection of said lid; and means associated with said lid shaper and adapted to support and shape a strap, said last mentioned means being responsive to said first mentioned means to shape said strap prior to the contact of said lid with said lid shaper.

4. In a box strappi g mechanism, the combination of a main frame; a strapper frame; a box support on said main frame in spaced relation with said strapper frame; a strapper saddle bar shiftably mounted on said strapper frame and yieldably urged towards said box support; means on said saddle bar toreceive a box strap; said means being adapted to deform said strap, to prepare it for applicatiomto'said box, when said saddle bar is shifted relative to saidstrapper frame away from's'aid box support; means for bringing said box support and said strapper frame closer together to position said strap for application to said box; and means for shifting said saddle bar to deform said strap prior to said box coming near enough to said strap for the latter to be applied thereto.

5. In a machine for strapping lids on boxes, the combination of box supporting means; means for receiving and shaping a strap and positioning this adjacent to the lid of said box to permit the ends' of the strap to be secured to the box with the strap disposed transversely across the lid; means for bringing said aforementioned means towards each other; and means controlled by the-approach of said strap means and said box supporting means to cause said strap means to shape said strap for application to said box prior to the'positioning of said strap relative to the lid of said box in proper position to be secured to said box. e

'6. In a machine for strapping lids on boxes,

the combination of: a box supporting platform;

a box elevator; strapping means suspended thereover adapted to receive and shape a strap and position this properly for securing to a box when the latter is lifted by said elevator; and means automatically operable in conjunction with said elevator to cause said strapping means to shape said strap prior tocontact of said strapping means with the lid of said box.

retain i. In a machine for strapping linds on boxes, the combination of: a box supporting platform; a box elevator; strapping means suspended there over, said strapping means including a saddle bar and jaws provided on opposite ends thereof;

operating means for causing relative movement of said jaws and said saddle bar to shape a strap; and means for actuating said operating means in conjunction with the rising of said boxelevator to shape said strap prior to its contact with the lid of said box. 1

8. In a machine for strapping lids on boxes, the combination of: a box supporting platform; a box elevator; strapping means suspended thereover, said strapping means including a saddle bar and jaws pivotally mounted on the opposite ends thereof; means for resiliently resisting vertical movement of said jaws; and operating means for lifting said saddle bar, prior to said lid pressurally contacting said bar, said operating means being actuated by said elevator when rising to cause said strapping means to shape a strap preparatory to positioning this for application to said box.

9. A combination as in claim 8 in which said operating means provides a support forsaid sad dle when said box has been elevated to bring said shaped strap into position to be applied to said box; driving means provided on said saddle for securing said strap ends to said box; means for exerting adownward pressure on said driving means to operate these, a substantial component of this force being received by said operating means. i

10. In a machine for strapping lids on boxes, the combination of: box supporting means; strap positioning means; means for bringing the aforementioned means together to position a strap in readiness for securing it to said box; strap securing means on said positioning means; means for operating said strap securing means by exerting a force thereon which is directed toward said box; and means for supporting said strap securing means to prevent a component of the pressure exerted by said operating means from being transmitted to the lid of said box.

11. In a machine for strapping lids on boxes, the combination of: a frame; a box elevator on said frame; a strapper provided on said frame and suspended over said elevator, said strapper including a saddle bar vertically slidable on said frame; jaws pivotally supported on opposite ends of said saddle bar; means for supporting said jaws in open position when said saddle bar is in its lowermost position; means yieldably moving said jaws to closed position when said saddle bar is lifted; meansv on said saddle bar and jaws for supporting a strap when said jaws are in open position; means operable by the rising of said including a saddle bar vertically slidable on said frame; jaws pivotally supported on opposite ends of said saddle bar; means for supporting said jaws in open position when said saddle bar is in its lowermost position; means yieldably moving said jaws to closed position when said saddle bar is lifted; means on said saddle bar and jaws for supporting a strap, having driving points preformed on the ends thereof, when said jaws are in open position; means operable by the rising of said elevator to lift said saddle bar and preshape said strap so that further elevation of said elevator will bring a box into such relation with said saddle bar that said strapwill be positioned for securing to said box; strap drivers pivotally connected to said saddle bar adjacent to said jaws; means adapted to exert a force downwardly on said drivers to cause them to drive the driving ends of said strap into the sides of said box; and means for supporting said saddle bar to relieve said box of a substantial portion of the pressure exerted downwardly on said drivers.

13. A. combination as in claim 11 in which said saddle bar lifting and supporting means is operated through a bell crank connected with said box elevator.

14. A combination as in claim 11 in which said saddle bar lifting means is adapted to lift said saddle bar to different heights in order to form said strap for boxes of different widths.

15. In a machine for applying a strap across a given face of an object and securing it to two other adjacent faces, the combination of: a table for supporting said object; jaws adapted to receive and confine in a given plane end portions of a strap having integral driving ends; a member pivotally connected to said jaws to form a strap confining unit; means to swing said jaws inwardly to preshape said strap in said plane and thereafter bring said unit and said object to gether to position said object between said jaws in proper position relative to said strap to have the latter applied thereto; and means on said unit for driving said strap driving ends into said adjacent faces of said object with said jaws positioned inwardly as aforesaid. I

16. In a machine for securing a cover on a box having a partition by a strap having integral driving ends, the combination of: a table for supporting said box; a cover shaping bar extending across said cover thereabove; strap confining extensions provided on opposite ends of said bar and extending downwardly opposite upper portions of the sides of said box, there being recesses in said extensions for confining end portions of said strap in the plane of said partition, said bar and extensions comprising a unit; means for shifting said extensions to apply lineally compressive forces to opposite ends of said strap tending to decrease the length of said strap, thereby forcing it into a concave form provided by adjacent surfaces on said unit; means 

